Page 82 - English for Writing Research Papers

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4.8 If possible replace and and as well as with a period (.)

In the OV below, and is used in two different ways:
(1) to join two verbs ( speak and write ) and two nouns ( English and Italian )
(2) to add additional information ( and that this is true .. and to this end )

In the first case there is no problem, but the second usage makes the sentence too
long (65 words). The revised version rearranges the order in which the information
is given, and divides the sentence into three parts.

original version (ov) revised version (rv)
The aim of this paper is to confi rm that How we speak and write generally refl ects
how we speak and write generally refl ects the way we think and act . This paper aims
the way we think and that this to prove that this thesis is true not only at a
is true not only at a personal but also personal but also at a national level . Two
at a national level, and to this end European languages were analyzed, English
two European languages were analyzed, and Italian, to verify whether the structure of
English and Italian, to verify whether the language is refl ected in the lifestyle of the
the structure of the language is refl ected respective nations.
in the lifestyle of the respective nations.

The OV below contains three ideas that are linked together using and , thus creating
one long sentence.

original version (ov) revised version (rv)
The treatments are very often expensive The treatments are very often expensive and
and technically diffi cult, and their technically diffi cult. Their effectiveness very
effectiveness very much depends on the much depends on the chemical and physical
chemical and physical characteristics of the characteristics of the substances used for
substances used for impregnation, and on impregnation. Also important is their ability
their ability to … to …

The RV replaces the fi rst and with a full stop – which is generally the simplest way
to reduce the length of a sentence. The second occurrence of and cannot simply be
replaced by a full stop. Instead, the writer uses also to alert the reader of additional
details and then uses important to recall the concept of effectiveness.

Sentences containing multiple uses of and are often found in the materials and
methods sections of a paper. It is much easier for readers to understand what materi-
als you used and what procedures you followed if you divide your descriptions into
short sentences. Each sentence should only cover one or two items or steps – how-
ever see Sect. 15.4 for cases where this is not applicable.